Late Chike Ofodile’s Burial: Buhari, Ngige paint Onitsha red

Former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Onitsha Anambra state painted the commercial city red with visits to various strategic places in the city at the burial ceremony of the late Chief Chike Ofodile, SAN, the Onowu of Onitsha and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice during Buhari’s regime.


Buhari was accompanied by Senator Chris Ngige and some national and state officers of the All Progressives Congress, APC to the burial ceremony.
 Buhari and his entourage first arrived the country home of Nigeria's first president, Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe where they were received by the first son of Azikiwe and Owelle of Onitsha II, Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe before heading to Ofodile’s compound.

Buhari and entourage paid a courtesy visits on the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe in his residence at the GRA Area of Onitsha and  the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo before departing to Asaba Airport from where he boarded a flight back to Abuja.

In all these, drum beats by APC supporters and Onitsha youths were eminent as APC members jubilated and sang praises of Buhari assuring him of their support.
At the Zik's residence, Buhari noted that his major reason for coming to Onitsha was to attend the funeral ceremony of Ofodile who performed creditably as his then Justice Minister. He added that he was particularly impressed with Ofodile for defending him properly at the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa panel set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo to verify the activities of the past regimes.

Buhari noted that he deliberately refused to appear before the Oputa panel on the ground that Obasanjo should take him to court if he felt that he was found wanting during his regime. He further added that it was rather Ofodile that volunteered himself and went to the panel and defended him.

On why he is still persistent in contesting the presidential election, even after he had done that on two or three occasions and failed, Buhari declared: "I am contesting based on my efforts to institute social justice, adequate security and economic recovery.

He contended that a society where social injustice, insecurity and poor economy are the order of the day cannot stand but is bound to fall as Nigerian is currently falling.

He said he was disturbed by the fact that the federal government did not allow the national assembly to set up a panel to investigate the appropriation of billions of naira budgeted to fight insurgency in the North East, not to talk of knowing about the transparency of PHCN privatization and petroleum subsidy.

At the residence of the late Ofodile, Buhari and Ngige went round his remains which was still lying on the bed, signed a condolence register and went round the stand of Onitsha chiefs and women before leaving for Obi of Onitsha palace. 

Meanwhile, the remains of Ofodile (SAN) were later in the day committed to the mother earth in his residence amidst eulogies and tributes from across the country.

Chief Ofodile who until his death was the Onowu, traditional prime Minister of Onitsha kingdom served at the capacity of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice under General Muhammadu Buhari regime and a senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

In his own remarks, Senator Chris Ngige who led Buhari into the commercial city of Onitsha described the death of Ofodile as great loss to Nigeria and Ndigbo in particular.

Senator Ngige said the death of the former Attorney General is a reminder for every office holder to remember that good name is priceless and once given the opportunity to serve, one must do it to the best of his ability.